Helper for the outer curved end of a picker stick check strap



Jun 23, 1970 G. D. LAFLAMME HELPER FOR THE OUTER CURVED END OF A PICKER STICK CHECK STRAP Filed Sept. L, 1968 FIGS W WM P 1| WIN INVENTOR GEORGE D. LAFLAMME flan/9w M ATTORNEYS United States Patent US. Cl. 139-165 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A helper for the outer curved portion of a picker stick check strap providing a wear surface with one end secured to the picker stick check strap and a free end located in the space between a check strap back plate and a portion of the check strap adjacent the check strap holder so as to be free to move in the space between the-m.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A so-called helper for a picker stick check strap is commonly used on the inner loop of the check strap against which the picker stick strikes after driving the shuttle across the loom. Attempts have been made to place a second helper at the outer end of the loop of the picker stick check strap but usually this arrangement has been unsatisfactory as the second helper curls up allowing the stick to get on the wrong side of the helper and between the helper and the strap which is overlaps. Attempts to secure this free end of the strap have been without success as there is a relative motion between the helper and the strap during each picker stick motion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A second helper at the outer curve portion of the picker stick check strap has one end secured in place adjacent the curved end and at a location so that it will not interfere with the friction on the check strap while the other end is of a sufficient length to extend along the check strap adjacent the check strap holder and between the check strap back plate and the check strap adjacent the check strap holder so that as flexing occurs the free end of this helper cannot come out between the check strap and the back plate, thus allowing freedom of motion, and yet confining it in a desired place so that the picker stick cannot get in back of the helper and between it and the check strap.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevation of portions of a loom illustrating the lefthand end portion of the lay, the picker check strap, and the picker stick in their relation to each other;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the check strap holder which is secured to the lay;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the check strap friction bracket;

1FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the check strap back p ate;

FIG. 5 is a central sectional taken through the check strap;

FIG. 6 is a central sectional view through the check strap and its holder on line 6-6 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 shows a plan view of the check strap and the helpers looking at the inside surface thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 10 designates the lay of the loom which is slotted to allow the picker stick 11 to reciprocate therein. The picker 12 serves to drive the shuttle across the loom along the upper surface 13 of the lay and swings to the dotted line positions shown during such shuttle driving.

A check strap holder designated generally 15 (FIG. 2) has its upper surface 16 engaging the underside 17 of the lay with flange 18 extending along the back of the lay, and an arm 19 protruding downwardly to have the check strap attached thereto. There is a similar check strap friction bracket 25 secured on the front side of the lay 10 with friction fingers 26 and 27 extending downwardly therefrom. The friction finger 26 has a generally L-shaped portion to be secured by a slot on the outer surface of the bracket and may be moved inwardly or outwardly from the lay in order to vary the friction on the strap as may be desired.

A check strap 30 is shown in its opened out straight form in FIG. 7 and comprises a tightly woven thick strap which is relatively stiff. This strap is provided with a helper 31 comprising leather which has the hair left thereon or some suitable material which is riveted as at 32 to the strap 30 leaving its end 33 free to slide along the strap. A slot 34 cooperates with and registers with a slot in the strap 30 for attaching it to the inner or front surface of the arm 19 as shown in FIG. 5. The other end 36 of the strap is slotted as at 37 and is provided with a helper 38 which is riveted to the strap as at 39 leaving its end 40 free.

To secure the strap in place, the end 35 with its helper 33 are placed along the inner or front surface of the arm 19 as shown in FIG. 5 and a check strap back plate 45 is positioned over the end 35 and slotted portion 34 of helper 31 with a bolt 46 passing through the slot 34 through a slot 47 in the plate 45 and through a slot or hole 48 in the arm 19. The strap is then disposed into a loop as seen in FIG. 5 with the other end 36 of the check strap positioned over the outer or back surface of the arm 19 with the bolt 46 extending through the slot 37 and is there secured by means of a washer 50 and nut 51. The slot 34, 37 permit adjustment of the position of the strap end on arm 19. The plate 45 is of a length to extend a substantial distance beyond the end 35 of the check strap so as to leave a space 52 between the plate and the end portion 35 of the check strap, and this houses and guides the end 40 or free end of the helper 38. The rivets 39 of the helper are so located that they will not interfere with the tension arms 26 and 27 through which a portion of the strap 30 is woven to be retarded in its movement as the picker stick check strap works to shift the position of its loop.

In operation, when the shuttle is at the left hand end of the loom, the picker stick will be in the full line position 11 and the check strap will be in the full line position in FIG. 1. However, when the shuttle is driven across the loom, then the check strap will be flexed so as to be in the dotted line position FIG. 1, and it will be noted that as the check strap flexes from one position to the other, the helper must also flex. However, in so flexing the helper 38 has its end 40 always guided between the plate 45 and the check strap so that it cannot get loose and permit the picker stick to get between the helper 38 and the check strap at the outer end 55 of the loop.

I claim:

1. Means for checking the picker stick of a loom comprising a check strap holder having a depending arm with back and front surfaces, a check strap disposed in the form of a loop with inner and outer curved portions extending from a front portion to extend about a picker stick with one end of the strap leading from the outer curved portion overlying the back surface of said arm and the other end of said strap overlying the front surface of said arm, a back plate overlying the inner surface of said check strap adjacent the end on the front surface of said arm and extending a substantial distance beyond its end and in spaced relation to the portion of the check strap adjacent the end overlying the back surface of said arm and a helper disposed about the outer curved portion of said loop with one end secured to said strap adjacent its front portion, said helper having a free end of a length to position the free end in the space between said plate and portion of the strap adjacent the end overlying the back surface of said arm in all positions of flexing of the strap.

2. Means for checking a picker stick as in claim 1 wherein said helper is a stiff material such as leather.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Beauchemin 139-165 Cristoforo 139-161 Clayton 139-165 Bahan 139-165 Brown 139-165 Shivel 139-1 65 Carter 139-165 JAMES KEE CHI, Primary Examiner 

